“Perhaps the sun was so bright and enticing, the sensation of flying so liberating, that Icarus could not help himself from climbing higher and higher. As for me, I just wanted to see how high I could fly.”

“In all the pigs’ sensitivity, in all their intelligence, curiosity, personality and generic similarities, in their intimate presence in our culture and religion, I wonder if the true magic of the swimming pigs of Exuma is because of some more profound connection. In them, we see us.”

“What an accident of history. What an amusing twist of fate that it took swimming pigs to make the world sit up and take notice. And it is remarkable that Exuma, one of the most beautiful places in the world, would soon be defined by the face of a pig.”

“It was a melee of flesh, men packed on top of men, with the only light trickling in from small, barred windows. No guards were in sight. Instead, as far as the eye could see, a sweaty stew of hardened criminals looked me up and down in my soiled white suit.”

“He stood there for a moment with eyes closed, knowing, fearing yet loving, that this moment would have to sustain him for the rest of the day. Finally he opened his eyes, the water trickling down his skull, streaming down his scared forehead and onto his face.”

Hello and welcome. I’m a former international journalist and emerging Canadian author.

I am actively taking on new writing projects in both fiction and non-fiction, as I explore my creativity and provide a voice for those with a story to tell.

With thanks,

T R Todd

Author's Spotlight

Coming Soon : The Sandbox Diary

Thomas Richards knew little of Abu Taqleed. But when the oil-rich sheikhdom launches its first newspaper, enticing top journalists from around the world, the opportunity is too much to pass up for a young man looking to make his mark. At a time when print media is dying, Abu Taqleed is undergoing a renaissance, promising freedom of speech and a western way of life.

Little does he know that illusion is about to unravel.

The Sandbox Diary is a satirical tale exploring the last great newspaper launch in the most unlikely of places. It is an unflinching glimpse at the collision of “western values” and the modern Arab world.

About

I am a former journalist with experience in Canada, the Caribbean and the Middle East.

After finishing my MA in English literature at the University of Sussex, I dedicated myself to writing my first novel – ‘Storm of Hate’ – after feeling an emotional response to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in 2008 and interviewing those that lived it. Following that, while living in the Bahamas, I was hired to write my first memoir. Upon its Canada-wide release in September 2014, ‘The Man Behind the Bow Tie’ was optioned for film rights and spent weeks on several Amazon bestseller lists.

In late 2017, Skyhorse Publishing took on my third book, ‘Pigs of Paradise’, which tells the remarkable story of the Exuma’s swimming pigs. It will be released in fall 2018. Meanwhile, I’m placing the finishing touches on my second novel, ‘The Sandbox Diary’.

From a decade of experience in journalism, to three published books that could not be more different, it is fair to say that nothing inspires me more than telling a good story.

I have always dreamed of writing a book worthy of remembrance.

Books

‘Pigs of Paradise’

In the middle of paradise, with billionaires and celebrities for neighbors, there is an island populated only by Swimming Pigs. There was a time when these animals were largely unknown to the world. And suddenly, they went viral. Appearing in magazines, videos, newspapers, commercials, TV shows and countless selfies, the Swimming Pigs of Exuma became a bucket list sensation.

But how did they get there? What made them so famous? And why, in February 2017, did so many of them die?

’Pigs of Paradise’ is an unlikely story of humble beginnings and the swift rise to stardom. With interviews from historians, world-renowned ecologists, famous pig owners and boat captains, it thoughtfully considers not only what this phenomenon says about these animals, but also about ourselves.

A revealing memoir of a fascinating and controversial medical doctor and the former spy watchdog of CSIS who is at the centre of the largest fraud investigation in Canadian history.

How does it feel to be deemed guilty before trial? To be held in a cutthroat Panamanian prison while suffering from terminal lung cancer? How does it feel to rise to the top of the medical and public arenas in your adopted country, only to crash miserably to earth under allegations of fraud and money-laundering?

In short: What is it like to be Dr. Arthur Porter?

There are few contemporary figures in Canada more intriguing and controversial than the former spy watchdog of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. A physician by trade, Porter, always in his iconic bow tie, has been described as intelligent, charismatic and relentless in his ambitions. Others have called him deceitful, manipulative and unscrupulous.

‘Storm of Hate’

Janna and Nate scratch and climb their way to the attic as the flood rises. The melancholy SWAT officer, Darren, barely hangs on as he tries to maintain a thin thread of order in the Louisiana Superdome. Ronald, the greedy developer trapped in the French Quarter, is fixated on money and the woman in the black fur coat. They could not be more estranged, more different, and yet their lives are about to collide.

Through its pounding, gritty, shifting narrative, Storm of Hate considers the weight of the past, the horror of the present, and the undying hope for the future. It explores humanity’s paradox—while meaning is shaped by others, we are all very much alone.

Ghost Writing

Why hire me?

I believe everyone has a story. Some stories are of public interest. Others are of personal interest. Writing a book about one’s life is an experience I think everyone can appreciate. It is an act of reflection, commemoration and legacy. The chronicaling of life’s great thoughts and events is critical to how we learn and grow as a society, and as people.

I believe in the good stories. I believe in the stories that explore uncomfortable or controversial subjects. All stories are important.

I want to write your story.

With a background in journalism and expertise in public relations, I know how to write with both flare and discretion. I know how to make your life’s history come alive.

Contact me for a complimentary interview to see if I am the right ghost writer for you.

News

Learn all about what really put Exuma on the map. And it's not #fyrefestival folks! 🐷💦 'Pigs in Paradise' explores all things #swimmingpigs in this year's funnest summer read! 🐷💦 Pre-order your book on Amazon today: http://ow.ly/lqfB30bk6fj ...